Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming Cairo visit is an important step to develop economic and political relations between the two countries, Trade and Industry Minister Tareq Qabil said.

During talks with Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Song Aiguo on Monday, Qabil said a number of agreements on joint development projects in the electricity, transport, training, e-education, anti-desertification, infrastructure and space science fields are expected to be signed during the Chinese president's visit, scheduled in the second half of January.

The Egyptian-Chinese business forum will also convene during the visit and a fair for ultra-tech Chinese products in the new and renewable energy domains will be held, the minister said.

Vast investment opportunities are available to Chinese investors in Egypt, especially the mega national projects the country is carrying out in the coming period, Qabil said.